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As she takes over the Cheltenham Music Festival, star trumpeter Alison Balsom tells Ivan Hewett why she’s on a mission

"Why do we call this music ‘classical’? It’s because it has stood the test of time, we know it’s valuable. If you are only making it available to those who can afford a private education, that seems criminal.” Alison Balsom is getting heated. She’s been a star trumpeter, perhaps the greatest classical trumpeter in the world, for 15 years. Her bestselling albums, her extraordinary project at Shakespeare’s Globe, Gabriel, inspired by Purcell and Handel, and her sell-out tours with the Balsom Ensemble have persuaded the world to take the trumpet seriously as a solo instrument. ...